5 New APIs: Google, Guardian, Ericsson, and CorpWatch

Once again this week we had a variety of new APIs added to our API directory. Some notable new entries include an API for a corporation accountability research service, mobile identification API, a mobile network lookup service API, Google's new power consumption meter API, and the Guardian's Politics API to UK political resources. Below are more details on each of these new APIs:

CorpWatch API: CorpWatch is a non-profit organization that uses investigative research and journalism to expose corporate malfeasance and to advocate for multinational corporate accountability and transparency.

The CorpWatch API uses automated parsers to extract the subsidiary relationship information from Exhibit 21 of companies' 10-K filings with the SEC and provides a free, well-structured interface for programs to query and process the data. Using the API users can access hundreds of thousands of formal names of public corporations, a consistent ID system for companies, locations associated with companies, subsidiary/parent relationships between companies, alternate and former names for companies and a link to the SEC filing. The API uses a RESTful interface and responses are formatted in either XML or JSON.

Ericsson Mobile Identification API: The Ericsson Mobile Identification API is the latest offering from Ericsson Labs. The Mobile Identification enabler provides users with the ability to develop Identification enabled web services. The API consists of a RESTful web interface for identifying a consumer's ID, usually the MSISDN number or an alphanumeric alias.

Ericsson Labs is a "concept for open innovation. The site holds APIs, resources, offerings, and various expert commentaries, produced by Ericsson. This assortment provides technologies and communities for developers and makes it easy to get in touch with a variety of experts from different fields."

Ericsson Mobile Network Lookup API: The Ericsson Mobile Network Lookup API also comes from from Ericsson Labs. The Mobile Network Lookup enabler gives developers the opportunity to lookup the mobile network information such as operator or country about the customer. The API consists of a RESTful web interface for looking up the network information. Responses are formatted in JSON.

Google PowerMeter API: The Google PowerMeter API will allow device manufacturers to build home energy monitoring devices that work with Google PowerMeter. Google PowerMeter allows customers to access their power consumption data through a secure, web-based iGoogle gadget. The data can be published immediately (low latency for the consumer) but is currently limited to uploads at 10 minute intervals.

Google is launching this API to "help build the ecosystem of innovative developers working towards making energy information more widely available to consumers." The API provides read and write access to its entities and events through RESTful calls and responses are formatted in XML.

Guardian Politics API API: The Guardian Politics API covers information about politicians and elections in the UK, with many details going back to 1992. It also contains limited older data, as far back as 1945. Get information on political parties, election results, candidates, and other details.